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Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities concluded he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under domestic detention.

The one-time leader was sentenced of plotting a government overthrow in September and handed more than over two decades in prison, but he continued under confinement pending appeals.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes said the move to detain the 70-year-old politician was a precautionary step after fresh information emerged.

This included trying to remove his electronic bracelet and a call for a demonstration that could "allow for a possible escape.

Court Filing Details Flight Fears

In a document approving the detention, Justice Moraes said intelligence from the unit overseeing the former president's confinement suggested the ex-president's plan to remove the electronic ankle bracelet to guarantee victory in his flight.

This, it said, would be "facilitated by the confusion caused by the demonstration called by his son.

His offspring, Flávio, who works as a senator, called for a gathering of his supporters near his father's house to take place on Saturday evening.

The senator wrote on digital networks on the previous day: "Are you going to fight for your nation, or watch it all from your phone there on your settee? I call on you to fight with us."

He said the gathering would be so backers could "pray for his health and for the return of democracy in our nation."

Foreign Shelter Risks

Part of the judge's decision was the chance of the former president's "relocation to foreign missions near the residence, considering that the investigations revealed a background of arranging to seek refuge through a diplomatic representation", a declaration said.

The legal document emphasizes that the United States embassy in the national capital, the capital city, is situated around 13km from his dwelling.

International Reactions

The former president's legal troubles have provoked anger from fellow right-wing populist US President Trump, leading him to implement a fifty percent tax on imports of Brazilian goods.

Bolsonaro is being kept in a national police facility in the capital and will experience a custody hearing on Sunday.

Recent Legal Requests

It was only on Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the High Court to permit him to complete his entire prison term under house arrest, with electronic monitoring.

They also requested that the former president be authorized to depart his residence for healthcare, saying he needed frequent medical attention for respiratory ailments and other illnesses.

Background on Conviction

The former president was found guilty of heading a conspiracy aimed at maintaining his control after he was defeated in the national vote to his political opponent, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Top judicial officials said that he was aware of a plan which involved plans to kill Lula and his VP candidate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to detain and kill Justice Moraes - the High Court judge who has been managing his judicial proceedings.

The plot was stopped because it didn't receive the endorsement of the army and air force commanders. The current president was sworn in without issue on the first day of 2023.

But a week later, on January 8th, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters invaded and destroyed government buildings in the federal district, Brazil's capital.

The security forces stepped in and around 1,500 people were arrested.

The justices found that the protesters had been incited by Bolsonaro whose plan, they said, was for the Brazilian military to take action, bring back stability and return him to office.

At the time, his attorneys called the over 27-year sentence extremely harsh.

He was also banned from running for public office until 2060 - eight years after the completion of his term.

The former president called the legal proceedings a "witch hunt and said it was designed to prevent him participating in the 2026 national vote.